I have had my 706MKIIG for several years running CW in the mobile. It was been on the shelf for about 4 years in retirement. Thanks to your informative website, it’s time to put it back on the air. Your tips are a great refresher for an old mind. I especially like your remedy for making cables by buying and cutting in half and not having to solder or crimp connectors. We are almost neighbors. 73 and keep up the great work.

Hey neighbor! You didn’t leave a callsign.. I’m thinking about getting back on the air too… Might buy a 7100 — many new features to play with (all that digital stuff) and write some new web pages about.
73 & WB, –KV5R

I have a Japanese model MkIIGM which is made for the domestic japanese regulations restricting power output on mobile transceivers. The difference between MkIIGM ands MkIIG is only for the 1.9-50mhz range were the M model Tx power range for SSB/CW/RTTY/FM is 2.5-50W , and for AM is 1-20W (vs for the standard G model is 5-100W and 2-40W respectively). For all other frequencies, both models have the same TX power output, and for all functions both models are absolutely identical. Is there a simple modification to remove the power restrictions on the M model? Any help much appreciated. Adam

Thanks for the great information! I am a new Technician class and new owner of a used Icom 706MKIIG. My question is how might I functions-test the radio to make sure it is working correctly?

I have been unable to get any decent voice clarity on a HF band. I can get the California 14.100 CW beacon, though it’s fuzzy, but can almost never hear any voice. I want to know if it’s a problem with the radio or other factors. It is clear as a bell on all VHF/UHF stations I’ve tried, plays broadcast FM and AM stations flawlessly, so I don’t think it’s the radio itself. Given it is computer-based I would think if the radio had a problem on one band, it would have issues on AM broadcast as well. It has no filters and I plan on trying the FL-223. My 20-meter dipole antenna is admittedly low (about 15 feet off the ground) and my house does not have especially good line of sight to the horizon due to trees and other buildings. It might also be that propagation is just very poor at the times I am checking.